Hermesh
Hermesh
| |
|---|---|
 | |
| Etymology: Scythe | |
  Hermesh Location within the Northern West Bank  Hermesh Location within the West Bank  Hermesh Location within Israel | |
| Coordinates: 32°25′24″N 35°7′9″E / 32.42333°N 35.11917°E | |
| Country | Palestine |
| District | Judea and Samaria Area |
| Council | Shomron |
| Region | West Bank |
| Affiliation | Mishkei Herut Beitar |
| Founded | 1984 |
| Founder | Mishkei Herut Beitar |
| Population (2024)[1] | 295 |
Hermesh (Hebrew: חֶרְמֵשׁ, lit. 'Scythe') is an Israeli settlement in the western Samarian hills of the West Bank. Founded in 1984, it is organised as a community settlement and falls under the jurisdiction of Shomron Regional Council. In 2024 it had a population of 295.
The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank to be illegal, but the Israeli government disputes this.[2]
History
Hermesh was established in 1984 by the Mishkei Herut Beitar settlement organization. Most of the residents of Hermesh are secular Jews or non-Jews. More than half of the population are new immigrants, mainly from the former Soviet Union. Their motivation for living in the region is not ideology but quality of life.[3]
On 29 October 2002 three residents of Hermesh, Orna Eshel (53), Hadas Turgeman (14), and Linoy Saroussi (14) were shot dead by a Palestinian gunman who entered the village armed with a Kalashnikov.[3] A soldier and a resident were wounded in the attack. Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades claimed responsibility.[4]
On 20 June 2005 Hermesh resident Yevgeny Reider (28) was killed in a shooting attack near Baqa ash-Sharqiyya, in the northern West Bank. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the attack.[4] On 30 May 2023 settler Meir Tamari (32) was killed in a shooting attack near the entrance of the settlement. Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for the attack.
Archaeology
Frasin, Palestinian village located across the road is identified with Kfar Parshai mentioned in the Talmud (Babylonian Talmud, Abodah Zarah, 31a).[5]
References
- ↑ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
- ↑ "The Geneva Convention". BBC News. 10 December 2009. Retrieved 27 November 2010.
- 1 2 Settlers in Hermesh, home of attack victim, make no ideological claims, Haaretz
- 1 2 Victims of Palestinian Violence and Terrorism since September 2000 Archived 2007-04-03 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Avi-Yonah, Michael (1976). "Gazetteer of Roman Palestine". Qedem. 5: 72. ISSN 0333-5844.
Places adjacent to Hermesh | |
|---|---|
| Authority control databases: National |
|---|
- ↑ "Families return to the evacuated West Bank settlement of Ganim 21 years later". ynetnews. 2026-08-13.
- ↑ Ben Kimon, Elisha (September 1, 2025). "Two decades after Gaza disengagement, first kindergarten opens in Homesh settlement". Ynetnews. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ↑ "New homes erected in evacuated settlement in preparation for repopulation this summer". The Times of Israel. 6 August 2026. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
- ↑ "בעיצומה של המלחמה: קרוואנים ראשונים בהתנחלות שפונתה ב-2005 - תיעוד". ynet.co.il. 2026-03-17.
- ↑ "חוזרים הביתה: זה הבסיס שצה"ל נטש וצפוי לחזור לפעילות". c14.co.il. 2026-02-26.